BREAKING: Obama Would Veto Pro-Mercury Pollution Resolution

The White House has threatened to veto a Congressional Review Act repeal of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, if S.J. Res. 37 is presented to President Obama. Today, the Executive Office of the President released a statement disapproving of Sen. Inhofe’s (R-OK) resolution that would prevent the EPA from limiting mercury and other air toxins from power plants. Inhofe’s bill would block the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that protect children, seniors, the infirm, and everyone else from air pollutants from air pollution such as mercury and arsenic that are emitted from coal-burning power plants. The standards “will prevent as many as 11,000 avoidable premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks, annually. The annual value of these health benefits alone is estimated to be as much as $90 billion.” The veto threat makes it easier for moderate Democrats and Republicans to oppose Inhofe’s resolution because they can argue that S.J. Res 37 will never become law, so its futile debate and vote on it.

The annual value of these health benefits alone is estimated to be as much as $90 billion.” ”

What about the value of the life of all those people vulnerable to pollution?

For me life has no price,i.e. the value of the life of those people is infinite. They deserve to live even if that requires dropping the world GDP to zero (a need that for all practical purposes is pure fantasy).

Republican’s never cease to amaze me with their backwards and ignorant industry first/citizens last perspectives on environmental legislation. To be fair, not all GOPs are as stupid and extreme as Inhofe and Perry, but the whole party seems to be going that way. Why would anyone want to lessen pollution standards on mercury, arsenic, and other toxins released by coal-burning power plants that are so hazardous to humans and account for thousands of deaths and health complications each year? It’s obvious these GOPs are puppets of the coal industry.